Chief of Disney Parks and Experiences, Josh D’Amaro, says that Disney World concept art released at D23 isn’t going to be released to the public in the form of actual expansions. Instead, it’s just “dreaming”. Meanwhile, Disney Parks Blogs — the official press release engine for Disney Parks — is focused on China.
Fans of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort probably thought when Disney revealed concept art that those images were at least somewhat resembling future expansion plans. That does not seem to have been the case. Instead, Disney has taken the curious strategy of repeatedly presenting the public with “dreaming.” That Animal Kingdom expansion? Not real. “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” — not real either.
In an interview with @EW, Josh D'Amaro talked about the DinoLand U.S.A. concept art (2023 version) and stressed it's not a final piece of concept art – but rather highlights "where our heads are" as Disney continues "dreaming" plans for Animal Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/ER26sYP5xo
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) November 20, 2023
Meanwhile, though we’re just “dreaming” with faux plans for Disney World, the Disney Parks Blog is obsessed with actual, real Chinese Park expansions. Today, we’re sharing two of those press releases. See if you can spot the difference in how China is currently treated by Disney management versus the North American consumers:
We’re tapping our paws in excitement for the opening of Zootopia on Dec. 20 at Shanghai Disney Resort! Our Imagineering team from around the globe has been hard at work bringing the world’s first ever “Zootopia”-themed land to life through state-of-the-art technology, making it possible to step directly into the beloved movie and see many of your favorite characters. We’re excited to share with you how we’re bringing our living, breathing mammalian metropolis to life!
1. The Ultimate Immersive Experience in Zootopia
From the moment you step foot in Zootopia, you will notice buildings, roads, signs, and more that look just like they did in the movie. Our innovative design process has enabled us to envision our biggest ideas early on, using tools such as Building Information Modeling to digitally step into the world years before completion, perfecting every detail and ensuring the world is as authentic as possible before beginning construction.
Later, our talented group of local field art directors brings those ideas to life, capturing every story-driven detail through intricate carving and painting, translating our digital ideation into physical reality. It takes more than 140 different disciplines to create a world as authentic and immersive as Zootopia!
Zootopia’s newest mammalian citizens can explore the city and visit places like Zootopia Transit Authority, located near the civic plaza of Zootopia, which features a new “hyper-tube” used by lemmings on their way to and from work at Lemming Brothers Bank and other businesses.
2. Bringing Zootopia Characters from Movie to Real Life
The technological advancements pioneered by our very own Imagineers are often the flourish that marks the distinctly Disney experience that we have all grown to love, particularly the Audio-Animatronics figures. Collaborating closely with our Walt Disney Animation Studios, and employing our latest in robotics technology combined with Imagineering’s artistry and attention to detail, our characters feel like they’ve stepped right off the screen, able to express emotions and deliver a level of performance not previously seen at Shanghai Disney Resort. We’ve even combined digital eyes with physical characters, allowing an added level of expressiveness and a newfound ability to connect directly with you. From Officer Clawhauser to Chief Bogo and even Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, our characters are so believable you will feel like you went on their very own adventure with some of our most beloved characters.
3. A Trackless Ride System on Zootopia: Hot Pursuit
Not only can you experience these characters like never before through a new generation of Audio-Animatronics figures, the action-packed ride, Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, also uses a combination of leading technologies to create a trackless ride system. From sliding across the ice of Tundratown and flying off the track onto the busy streets of Sahara Square, to plummeting from the canopies in a gondola in the Rainforest District, each scene will keep you guessing what’s next, with unexpected turns, spins, slides and drops that bring the story to life! Innovative ride and show technologies like those employed on Zootopia: Hot Pursuit open the door for new types of storytelling, letting us surprise and delight in ways never before imagined, giving the ultimate immersive Zootopia experience!
At Imagineering, we’re always pushing the boundaries of what is possible. The innovative and collaborative spirit is present throughout the entire world of Zootopia and could only happen at Disney, allowing everyone to connect with their favorite characters like never before, not just on the ride, but even in the queuing and land experience as well. Our entire Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios team are so proud of how we’ve raised the bar on immersive experiences in Zootopia, and can’t wait to share our city with the world on Dec. 20!
Hong Kong Disneyland let it go like never before celebrating the grand opening of World of Frozen, the first-of-its-kind land now immersing guests into the stories of Anna and Elsa. Among the inaugural visitors through the gates of Arendelle were the 2024-2025 Disney Ambassadors, making the Summer Snow Day celebration a truly global #DisneyCastLife moment.
Representing seven Disney destinations, the full team gathered for the first time for global training amid the excitement of the new land’s debut, making their own Disney history as the inaugural time this long-running exercise was conducted outside the United States.
For Disney Ambassador Jose Alfaro Navarro, representing Disneyland Paris, the training was filled with incredible moments. “Every hour, there was something new happening, something rewarding, something truly unique. Every time that I could stop and think for a little bit about where I was and what I was doing, I had a real sensation of a dream coming true, and a moment that is always going to be in my heart forever.”
Over four action-packed days, the Disney Ambassadors experienced all the best of Hong Kong Disneyland, enjoying park walks with Imagineers and up-close looks at fan-favorite attractions like Mystic Manor and the Iron Man Experience.
Daisuke Shibata, Disney Ambassador of Tokyo Disney Resort, said, “I felt the beauty of putting meaning into the park… [including] the new Dream Makers statue honoring the moment related to Walt’s story of [Disneyland park’s] creation.”
Disney Ambassador Dylan Rogers, representing Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, said watching the “Momentous” nighttime spectacular was one of her most memorable experiences. “There were no dry eyes as we watched the beautiful projections and fireworks together. That pure joy of being together with one another going through this amazing experience was something I’ll never forget.”
During their training they learned the ins and outs of being a Disney media spokesperson, managing social media, communications planning, and strategy. They put their learnings to good use immediately supporting the World of Frozen grand opening media event, which the citizens of Arendelle (the cast members bringing the new land to life) helped ready them for with a guided tour of the land’s attractions, dining and shopping locations.
Their trip preparation also included one of their first global projects as Disney Ambassadors. Over the past few weeks, Disney Ambassadors collected signatures on specially designed “friendship flags” from their home resort’s leaders, along with cast members representing “Frozen” themed attractions and entertainment offerings. This includes cast and Imagineers working on upcoming projects, including the Fantasy Springs expansion at Tokyo DisneySea, plus the new “Frozen” themed area under construction at Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris.
During a special moment prior to the grand opening, the Disney Ambassadors handed off their home resorts’ friendship flags to representatives of each location within Arendelle, representing a global gesture of togetherness, goodwill, and best wishes for the success of the new land. The flags will go on permanent display together in a World of Frozen backstage area.
The visit was punctuated with incredible moments, including opportunities to meet Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences. They also attended a special conversation with Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and co-director of the “Frozen” films. The excitement for their visit culminated in a special cavalcade along the Hong Kong Disneyland parade route, with many cast members among the thousands of guests cheering them on.
“I am so grateful to be heading into these next two years with all these amazing memories we experienced with the cast at Hong Kong Disneyland,” said Disney Ambassador Raul Aquino Rojas, representing Disneyland Resort. “The cast here have really made it feel like home, and every inch of this park has something special that is so hard to describe in words. It really needs to be experienced.”
Beyan Tse, 2024-2025 Disney Ambassador of Hong Kong Disneyland, shared she felt “so grateful that I could share my favorite place and my home resort [with] them… I am looking forward to building the relationship with them.”
I suppose its good to be a Disney fan if you live near Hong Kong or Shanghai. For the rest of us not in Communist China, it seems harder to actually get Disney to do anything. Well, unless you consider destroying the most popular attraction on the planet (as seen in polling): Splash Mountain. Disney’s really good at destroying what we love here apparently.
For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below!
